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(No Moda.) W. D. HOOKER@ STEAM PUMP REGULATOR.

N0.'288,436. Patented Nov. 13.1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

l WILLIAM D. HOOKER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEAM-PUMP REGULATOR.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 288,436, dated November 13, 1883.

Application tiled Juno 19, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WM. D.;HooKER, a

citizen of the United States, rcsidingat St.

Louis, in the State of Missouri,have invented certain new an d useful Improvements in Steam- Pump Regulators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to steam-pumps; and it consists in an automatic regulator and stop-m otion which can be attached to any steampump or pumping-engine. Iprovide, such an automatic device `for attachment to steampumps, or pumping-engines, whether new or already in use, as that when the water or other liquid being pumped shall fall below the induction or suction pipe the Vpump will be caused to slow down or stop, as required, and thereby the running away of the engine and the attendant damage to machinery are obviated. To accomplish this purpose I employ an automatic regulator-valve controlled by connections to a piston, valve, or equivalent mechanism operated upon by the changes in the vacuum-chamber of the pump with which` the cylinder in which the piston works is connected. Theinduction-pipeleadstothevacuum-chamber, and when the opening thereof is submerged in water or other liquid the vacuum is preserved, and the valve or piston, whose connecti ons reach and whose movements aiiect the regulator-valve, is maintained in a position to keep the regulator-valve open by the lsuction from the vacuum chamber or chambers.

Vhen, however, the water is Vdrawn down below the suction-opening, the vacuum is destroyed, and the piston or valve controllingA the regulator-valve is released by the influx of air, and the weight or spring closes the regulator-valve, when the engine will slow down or cease action. This regulator-valve is so constructed that when closed it shall have a slight leak,through which sutiicient steam may reach the engine to run it at aslow speedwhile no work is being done by the, pump. This slow rate of action will be maintained as long as the suction-opening of the pump remains above the water; but when it again becomes submerged, the valve will be opened to let in full head of steam tothe engine and the pumping will proceed. This arrangement and the result effected thereby are peculiarly. usefulw when applied to pumps used in sinking mineshafts and in forming other excavations, as the engineer is relieved of care and watchfulness, and the pump works well and safely, whether the suction-opening is submerged beneath or lies above the surface of the water.

The accompanying drawings illustrate what I consider the best means for carrying out my invention.

Figure l is an enlarged view of the controlling-cylinder and attached parts. Fig. 2 is a view showing the parts applied to an engine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the regulatorvalve, the valve here shown being a butterilyvalve, but any form of valve will answer with slight change in the parts.

In all the views the same letters are ,employed to designate the "same or equivalent parts.

A is the steam-cylinder. B is the watercylinder. O is the dischargeopening, and D the suction-opening.

Steam reaches the cylinder A by a pipe, g, from a boiler or other source. (Not shown.) In the steam-pipe g is located the regulatorvalve h, and between the regulator-valve and the source of supply the pipe is provided with a cock, z', under control ot' the attendant. The regulator-valve h is equipped with a bellcrank lever, u, to one limb of which is secured the piston-rod s, or alink, 1y, connected thereto, of the controlling-cylinder 7c, and on the other limb of the bell-crank a is placed an adjustable weight, c. The controlling-cylinderA 7c is provided with a piston or valve, a, and is connected with the vacuum-chamber F, by the condition of which the piston ais affected. The vacuum-chamber F is in connection with the suction-pipe D. This piston-rod s of the piston or valve a works loosely through the head tot1 the cylinder, and the piston is provided with an elastic cushion, '0, secured upon its face by a washer, p, and screws gh M is a secondary vacuum-chamber located above the controlling-cylinder, and connected OO therewith at a point in front of the piston by a passage, a'. A turning plug, Z, is located in merged by the fluctuating water.

e i :Besace the passage between the vacuum-chamber F and the cylinder k, by which theV cylinder may be cut off from the vacuum. Vhen the suction-opening is submerged and the vacuum in chambers F and M complete, the packing q on the face of the piston a is drawn up tight against the shoulder q in the cylinder Za, and an air-tight joint is formed. When the apparatus is thus conditioned, the regulatorvalve is held open; but when the suction-opening D is uncovered by the receding waters, the vaeuumis destroyed by the influx of air through the suction-opening, the adherence or suction of the pistonn upon the shoulder q ceases, and the weight c closes the regulatorvalve h,- butin order that the engine may not stop entirely when the suctionpipe is exposed, I provide a leak through the regulator-valve sufficiently large to pass enough steamto keep the engine and pump working idly. To do this I make the valve h iit loosely upon its seat, or drill a hole, as h', through it. Through this leak the engine is kept going as long as the pump plays, i

which will be as long as the suction-opening is uncovered. Vhen the suction'opening becomes again submerged by the gathering water the vacuum is restored, the piston n is drawn up to the shoulder q', the force of the weight n overcome, and the valve h is again opened to let on full ilow of steam.

It is apparent that the succession of low and high pressures of steam may be repeated as often as the suction-opening is left open or sub- During either condition the pump will work on safely, and change from one mode of action to the other without interference on the part of the attendant or engineer.

The usual exhaust is provided for the engine, as shown at j.

Modifications may be made within wide limits without departing from the spirit or sacricing the advantages of iny invention. A spring may be substituted for the weight o on the bell-crank lever u. The bell-crank lever may be dispensed with and the valve h made a slid- 1. In a pumping-engine, the combination of the regulator-valve with connections to the vacuum-chamber of thepump, so that the regulator-valve shall be controlled by the condition of the vacuum-chamber.

2. In a pumping-engine, the combination of the regulator-valve, connections to the vacuum-chamber of a pump, so that the valve will be opened when the vacuum is established,and a weight or analogous device to close the valve when the vacuum is destroyed, as set forth.

3. The combination of the piston and controlling-cylinder, in which the piston operates, said cylinder` being connected with the vacuum-chanlber of a pump, with the regulator valve and connections thereto, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the operating or controlling cylinder k, vacuum-chamber F, connected therewith, and the piston or valve n, acting as a piston and valve combined, as set forth.

5. rIhe combination, with the operating or controlling cylinder lc, piston ,vacuum-chamber F, and secondary vacuum-chamber M, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination,with the vacuum chamber or chambers, connected as described, of the cylinder 7c, having the shoulder q, and piston a,having the elastic cushion q for contact with said shoulder, as herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM DAVIS HOOKER.

Witnesses:

v L. FRANK OTTOFY,

F. M. Esrns. 

